5 Must-Hear New Country Songs: Luke Combs, Greensky Bluegrass, Billy Strings & More

This week’s crop of new music features Luke Combs getting “Back in the Saddle,” Greensky Bluegrass teams with Billy Strings for a new spin on a Greensky classic, while Karissa Ella details the fortunate losses that come with an evolution of confidence.

Check out all of these and more in Billboard‘s roundup of some of the best country, bluegrass and/or Americana songs of the week below.

Luke Combs, “Back in the Saddle”

Fresh off his determined anthem with Bailey Zimmerman, “Backup Plan,” Combs again conjures feelings of passion, strength, ambition and competitiveness in his latest single, which comes with an accompanying video starring Combs with NASCAR stalwarts Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Richard Petty. “This time I’m takin’ what’s mine/ Like a long lost out West outlaw outta his mind,” he sings over searing guitars and a steely, relentless rhythm. This song feels like a multi-award winner and mainstay chart-topper declaring his intentions to remain leading the pack when the checkered flag waves.

Greensky Bluegrass feat. Billy Strings, “Reverend”

As bluegrass stalwarts Greensky Bluegrass celebrate 25 years as a band, they welcome Billy Strings to lend guitar and vocals on a remake of the song “Reverend,” from the group’s 2008 album Five Interstates. Strings has covered the song in his own concerts, transforming the classic at times into a nearly 15-minute riveting jam session, so to hear Strings and Greensky Bluegrass on an official recorded version of the song just feels right. Two decades after the song’s release, lyrics such as “There are reasons I worry/ There are answers I fear” sound as relevant and as haunting as ever.

Karissa Ella, “Growing Wings”

Ohio native and Belmont University graduate Karissa Ella blends the polish of pop-country with her unmistakable twang and a neo-traditional sound as she crafts a musical narrative of heightening maturity and confidence. She catalogs the items and habits that she’s realized she’s had to leave behind as she evolves to new levels of self-assurance, eschewing everything from old jeans to former timid habits. “Growing Wings” is the title track to Ella’s new seven-song EP.

The Droptines, “Take Too Much”

Newly signed with Big Loud Texas, Austin-based band The Droptines play off of each other with ease, forging a primal fusion of country, Americana, blues and rock on their new song, “Take Too Much.” Frontman Conner Arthur details a relationship so fledgling that “it’s too soon to talk about her.” That relationship seemingly takes a dire turn, as he quickly follows with the lyrics, “I’m knee deep now/ Another hole I dug my way down in.” This barnstorming, fervent rock instrumentation, spearheaded by Authur’s burly voice, melds to create a surefire crowd pleaser.

Jake Worthington, “My Home’s in Oklahoma”

Neo-traditionalist Jake Worthington continues release one ace song after another, with his latest, a slice of Western swing in “My Home’s in Oklahoma.” Written by Worthington, Will Banister and Roger Springer, the song centers on a Texas native who finds love can lead him to do things he never thought he’d do–like leave his beloved Lone Star State to be with his lover in Oklahoma. Swirling fiddle from Jeneé Fleenor and bright piano from Gordon Mote lead this groove, further elevating Worthington’s George Jones-esque vocal timbre.

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U.K.’s Grassroots Music Scene to Receive Boost From New Charity LP – See Who’s on the Compilation

A number of the U.K.’s most exciting indie-rock acts have united for a charity compilation set to boost the local grassroots music scene.

Mercury Prize winners English Teacher appear on the compilation alongside Wunderhorse, Nova Twins, Matt Maltese, Katy J Pearson and Lambrini Girls. Each act has provided a brand new recording, remix, demo or live version to the 24-track collection titled A Hideous Collective, released Sep. 5. See the full tracklist below.

The double LP has been collated by Brighton band Opus Kink – who also feature the record – and will be distributed via their label Hideous Mink Records in partnership with SO Recording. Funds raised will support the Music Venues Trust and the U.K. Artist Touring Fund, both of which support rising artists as they tour domestically and internationally. 

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A Hideous Collective will not appear on streaming and will only be available on vinyl and CD. Independent record stores Rough Trade (London, Bristol, Liverpool, Nottingham), Resident (Brighton), Piccadilly Records (Manchester), Norman (Leeds) and Crash (Leeds) will stock the physicals, with a portion of the sales benefitting the businesses.

The MVT reports that over 150 grassroots venues have closed across the U.K. since 2023, citing a number of financial challenges following the COVID-19 pandemic and the cost of living crisis. 

The U.K. Artist Touring Fund (UKAT) was introduced by the Featured Artists Coalition (FAC) in early 2025. The touring fund is pulled from a voluntary £1 levy on every ticket sold for stadium and arena shows over a 5,000 capacity. A number of huge artists such as Sam Fender and Katy Perry have committed to a donation from recent tours, as have spaces such as London’s Royal Albert Hall. The fund also accepts one-off donations from interested parties.

The LP opens with a foreword from BBC Radio DJ Steve Lamacq, who has campaigned passionately to champion emerging artists and their abilities to tour. “I raise a toast to our grassroots venues, and all the unsung heroes who run them,” he says on the first track. “Because without them, where would we all be?” Coldplay are set to donate 10% of the profits from their run of 10-night residency at Wembley Stadium in August to the MVT and grassroots music scenes in the U.K.

“Touring independent music venues is like this. The most passionate organizers are the ones who do it on a shoestring and are often one bad season away from crumbling, Opus Kink said in a statement. “Support for these venues and humans is starting to glimmer in the ashes through donations and awareness and the work of groups like MVT, but as always, unfortunately, it must also take wresting a more fundamental and top-down offering from the industry to really stay the decimation of grassroots live music culture in this country. In the meantime, please enjoy the sounds of some of the artists who help to keep alive the places that birthed them, and please buy this record so you can do that too. And remember to thank Satan.”

Music Venues Trust added: “This compilation is a celebration of everything that makes grassroots music culture so vital. Every track is a reminder that these spaces are not just stepping stones—they are sacred spaces of culture, rebellion, and connection. Buying this record is doing more than raising funds; it’s an act of beautiful support and solidarity at a time when the grassroots still aren’t valued for their essential contribution to the pipeline of talent in this country. A huge thank you to Opus Kink and every artist on this record!”

A Hideous Collective tracklist

  1. A Foreword From Steve Lamacq
  2. Big Special – “Cooked Fish”
  3. Katy J Pearson – ”Tonight”
  4. Luvcat – “He’s My Man (live in Cologne)”
  5. Honeyglaze – “Turn Out Right”
  6. Matt Maltese – “Please Don’t Kill Me
  7. Opus Kink – “Thank You Satan”
  8. Lambrini Girls – “Big Dick Energy (live in Seattle)”
  9. Warmduscher – “YAKUZA”
  10. TTSSFU – “Upstairs”
  11. Hamish Hawk – “Burning Up”
  12. Wunderhorse – “Rain (live)”
  13. Antony Szmierek – “Independent Venue Week Poem”
  14. Friedberg – “Haha”
  15. HotWax – “Chip My Teeth (live at Rough Trade East)”
  16. Getdown Services – “AONB”
  17. Gurriers – “Approachable (Chris.W.Ryan. version)”
  18. Nova Twins – “Monsters (live)”
  19. cumgirl8 – “Goblin”
  20. The Oozes – “The Entertainer”
  21. Los Bitchos – “Turkish Delight”
  22. Oracle Sisters – “Wait For Me”
  23. English Teacher – “Yorkshire Tapas”
  24. mary in the junkyard – “ghost (demo)”
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This Lululemon Belt Bag Is Music Festival-Ready & It’s On Sale for $39

All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

If you’re an avid concert or festival-goer, you’ll know the trials and tribulations of getting a bag that fits the venue’s very specific size regulations.

Whether you’re heading to Lollapalooza this summer or checking out SEVENTEEN on tour, you’ll need a bag that can basically do it all. It can’t be too small, unless all you want to bring with you is a pack of gum, and it can’t be too big either. It has to have enough pockets to hold your essentials, aka your keys and wallet, and it has to sit just right so you can dance around without fear of it just flying off. Finding that Goldilocks bag that’s justtt right can be a hassle, but not anymore thanks to Lululemon.

For the stylish minimalist on a budget, the brand’s beloved Everywhere Belt Bag is on sale during Cyber Week. The belt bag, discounted $39 (reg. $48), offers up enough room to hold smaller items that you might need to take to a concert, music festival or somewhere else on the go.

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Available in citra lime and army green, the Everywhere Belt Bag 2L is designed to hold keys, ID, lip gloss, a cell phone, portable charger and other necessities. The TikTok famous bag has a roomy interior pocket with a zipper closure and adjustable belt.

Lululemon Belt Bag Is on Sale

Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag Large 2L in Citra Lime

$39 $48 19% off

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A belt bag perfect to take with you to concerts.

The bag measures 8.3 inches x 2.2 inches x 5.7 inches, and it’s highly recommended with more than 4,4458 customer reviews and 4.6 out of 5-stars on the Lululemon site.

“Does not move or get in the way,” reads on customer review. Another customer wrote, “This bag is so well made and holds more than I thought it would. The zippers are sturdy and the entire bag is the best fanny pack I have ever had and I’ve tried many.”

Other Lululemon favorites include the All Night Festival Bag ($78) and the Everywhere Belt Bag 1L Knit Mesh ($39). The mesh Everywhere Belt Bag 1L is currently on sale in the shades crater blue and black.

Belt bags are typically worn as a crossbody versus around the waist like a traditional fanny pack. With multiple pockets and easy access, belt bags are perfect for concerts, festivals and other music events this season. And you can gift them for the holidays.

Interested in a cheaper alternative? The crossbody bag pictured below is just $11.98 on Amazon.

Lululemon Belt Bag Is on Sale

ODODOS Unisex Mini Belt Bag with Adjustable Strap Small Fanny Pack for Workout Running Traveling Hiking, Black

$11.98

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The Ododos Unisex Mini Belt Bag is a top seller at Amazon earning a 4.6 out of 5 stars and over 19,000 customer ratings. The bag is available in over 40 different colors including black, blue, beige, green, brown and iron gray. You also might want to consider other options like the Telena Fanny Pack ($9.99) or Adidas Originals Sport Waist Pack ($19.99).

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Zayn Malik Attends BLACKPINK’s DEADLINE World Tour With Daughter Khai: ‘LOVED IT’

Zayn Malik may have found fame in a boy band, but his daughter, Khai, is all about a certain girl group: BLACKPINK.

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As shared by the former One Direction star Sunday night (July 27) on Instagram Stories, he and his 4-year-old little girl — whom he shares with ex-girlfriend Gigi Hadid — attended one of the K-pop foursome’s recent concerts. Most recently, BLACKPINK played two back-to-back nights at New York City’s Citi Field starting Saturday (July 26).

“@BLACKPINKOFFICIAL THANK YOU :)” Malik wrote, sharing a photo of himself in the crowd, holding Khai in his arms as they both raise a hand in the air. “ME & KHAI LOVED IT.”

After more than a year of break time as members ROSÉ, JENNIE, LISA and JISOO pursued solo projects, BLACKPINK finally reunited earlier in July for a global trek called the Deadline World Tour. So far, the quartet has played shows in Goyang, South Korea; Los Angeles; Chicago; Toronto; and now, NYC.

Malik’s special father-daughter date with Khai comes just a couple of months ahead of her fifth birthday. Last year, the former celebrated his little one turning 4 with an emotional post on Instagram, writing at the time, “Beyond proud to call you my daughter … grateful for every second I get to spend next to you, as you become the incredible person I know you already are.”

The singer welcomed Khai with Hadid in September 2020. The former couple dated on and off beginning in 2015 before calling it quits in 2021 following a dispute between Malik and the model’s mother, Yolanda Hadid. Nevertheless, Gigi recently said that she and her ex retain only “love and a feeling of camaraderie” for one another.

“Zayn and I do our custody schedules months in advance,” she told Vogue in a March cover story. “That doesn’t mean that it doesn’t change here and there, but we help each other out and have each other’s backs.”

Now past the 10-year mark since he left One Direction, Malik currently seems to be gearing up to release new music. Earlier in July, he shared a teaser for a song on which he raps about facing racism during his boy band days, spitting, “I’m a convert to the concert, and I did that for inflation/ ‘Cause I worked hard in a white band, and they still laughed at the Asian.”

His last album, Room Under the Stairs, dropped in May 2024 and reached No. 15 on the Billboard 200.

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SEVENTEEN Announce Dates For U.S. Leg of 2025 World Tour

K-pop superstars SEVENTEEN announced the dates for the U.S. leg of their upcoming fall 2025 world tour on Monday morning (July 28). S.COUPS, JEONGHAN, JOSHUA, JUN, HOSHI, WONWOO, WOOZI, THE 8, MINGYU, DK, SEUNGKWAN, VERNON and DINO will touch down on U.S. shores on the SEVENTEEN WORLD TOUR [NEW_] IN U.S. beginning with an Oct. 11 show at the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, Wash.

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The nine-show run will include double-down stops at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, as well as two-fers in Austin, Texas and Sunrise, Fla., with the outing wrapping up at Washington, D.C.’s Capital One Arena on Oct. 29 and 30.

A CARAT fan club member presale will run from 3 p.m. local time on Aug. 5 through 9:59 p.m. local time. CARAT membership holders can register on Weverse now through Sunday (Aug. 3) at 10 p.m. ET to take advantage of the presale. For fans with both U.S. and global CARAT memberships, presale registration will be processed based on the U.S. membership to prevent duplicate purchases.

A general on-sale will begin on Aug. 6 at 3 p.m. local time; click here for additional ticketing information.

According to a release announcing the dates, the tour title, NEW_, “signals a bold new chapter for SEVENTEEN. The underscore (_) following the word ‘new’ symbolizes limitless potential — an open space to be reinvented.” The group will launch the world tour with two shows at Incheon Asiad Main Stadium in Korea on September 13 and 14, with additional tour dates and cities to be announced at a later time.

SEVENTEEN’s most recent release, fifth studio album HAPPY BURSTDAY, debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 album chart in June.

Check out the dates for SEVENTEEN’S [NEW_] 2025 U.S. tour below.

  • Oct. 11: Tacoma, Wash. @ Tacoma Dome
  • Oct. 16: Los Angeles, Calif. @ BMO Stadium
  • Oct. 17: Los Angeles, Calif. @ BMO Stadium
  • Oct. 21: Austin, Texas @ Moody Center
  • Oct. 22: Austin, Texas @ Moody Center
  • Oct. 26: Sunrise, Fla. @ Amerant Bank Arena
  • Oct. 27: Sunrise, Fla. @ Amerant Bank Arena
  • Oct. 29: Washington, D.C. @ Capital One Arena
  • Oct. 30: Washington, D.C. @ Capital One Arena
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Fan Army Face-Off 2025 Enters Round 3: Vote Now to Determine the Quarterfinals!

The 2025 Billboard Fan Army Face-Off has entered round 3 – and is really heating up. At noon ET on Monday, July 28, the number of fan armies competing for the 2025 crown was pared down from 32 to 16 after a week of furious fan voting.

Some fan armies won their rounds handily, while other matchups were quite close, with the winning fan armies pulling out last-minute victories. Round 3 of voting runs through Monday, August 4, at noon ET, at which point the Sweet 16 of Round 3 will turn into the Elite 8 of the Quarterfinals.

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When the voting began on July 14, fan armies for the following artists were in competition for this year’s crown: Addison Rae, aespa, Ángela Aguilar, Ariana Grande, ATEEZ, Bad Bunny, Bailey Zimmerman, BE:FIRST, Benson Boone, Beyoncé, BigXthaPlug, Billie Eilish, BINI, BLACKPINK, BTS, Cardi B, Chappell Roan, Charli xcx, Chris Brown, Doechii, Drake, Dua Lipa, Ed Sheeran, ENHYPEN, GloRilla, Gracie Abrams, Hozier, Jelly Roll, JO1, John Summit, Justin Bieber, Karol G, KATSEYE, Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Lana Del Rey, Mariah Carey, Megan Thee Stallion, Miley Cyrus, Morgan Wallen, Mrs. GREEN APPLE, Nicki Minaj, Olivia Rodrigo, Peso Pluma, Playboi Carti, Post Malone, Rihanna, Sabrina Carpenter, SB19, Selena Gomez, SEVENTEEN, Sexyy Red, Shaboozey, Shakira, Sleep Token, Stray Kids, SZA, Tate McRae, Taylor Swift, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, Travis Scott, TWICE, Tyla and YoungBoy Never Broke Again.

Many of these artists have graced the cover of Billboard magazine over the years – some more than once. Even more of them have topped the Billboard Hot 100 with their smash singles, crowned the Billboard 200 with hit albums and received Billboard Music Awards thanks to their remarkable, culture-shifting music.

Vote now to determine which fan army is the strongest.

Good luck!

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Ice Cube Explains Why BIG3 Won’t Make Same $5M Offer to Angel Reese That Caitlin Clark Got

Ice Cube offered Caitlin Clark the opportunity to play for his BIG3 basketball league before she joined the WNBA in 2024, but that same lucrative $5 million proposal won’t be extend to Angel Reese.

TMZ caught up with Cube at the airport over the weekend, where he detailed why Angel Reese’s potential BIG3 offer would be different because she wouldn’t “have that same impact” for the league.

“She’s a great player,” he said of Reese. “The thing with Caitlin Clark, it was to unlock millions of dollars for the league because of her stardom. What our sponsors were telling us, they didn’t tell us the same about Angel Reese, so I don’t know if we can make that same offer.”

“I don’t think we can make that same offer because it won’t have that same impact to the league,” Cube added. “All business — it ain’t nothing personal.”

Caitlin Clark would’ve just needed to play eight regular-season games and possibly playoffs, but she ultimately went to the WNBA, where she was drafted No. 1 overall by the Indiana Fever last year. Her rookie salary isn’t six figures, but per Sportico, she’s netted $11 million in endorsements.

Angel Reese has enjoyed a great sophomore season. She made the WNBA All-Star Game, as the Chicago Sky forward is averaging nearly 14 points and 12.5 rebounds per game. She also launched her own signature shoe with Reebok and debuted the Mebounds pink colorway at the WNBA All-Star game in July. In addition, the 23-year-old LSU alum was tapped to grace the cover of this year’s NBA 2K26 WNBA Edition.

During the off-season, Reese also took part in the three-on-three Unrivaled league launched by her fellow WNBA stars, which saw her collect a bonus check for winning the championship.

As for Cube, the 2025 BIG3 season is in full swing, with the league headed for week eight in Houston on Saturday (Aug. 2).

Watch Ice Cube’s explanation below.

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Demi Lovato’s Pop-Music Comeback Is ‘Fast’ Approaching With New Single Announcement

Demi Lovato‘s return to pop music now has a start date — and it’s coming fast.

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After weeks of teasing that she’d be making a comeback in mainstream music with a splashy EDM-infused new single called “Fast,” the superstar has announced that the track will arrive Friday (Aug. 1). The news comes via an Instagram post on Monday (July 28), with Lovato sharing photos from what appears to be a music video shoot and writing, “me when i serve my favorite dish… FAST OUT FRIDAY 8.1.”

On their Story, the hitmaker wrote, “a new era has arrived” and added, “i know i shouldn’t have kept you waiting … but i’m here now.”

Lovato has been getting fans hyped for “Fast” for weeks, sharing snippets of the summery track on social media. Over a punchy electronic beat, the Camp Rock star sings softly on the song, “I wanna go fast/ I wanna go hard/ I wanna go anywhere, anywhere you are.”

The song is expected to be just the first piece in Lovato’s pop-music homecoming after they previously disavowed the genre in favor of rock on 2022’s Holy Fvck. Lovato later followed that album up with Revamped, an LP of her past pop hits reimagined as punk bangers.

This year, however, the singer has promised fans a return to form, as teased in a recent Rolling Stone exclusive. The publication reported that Lovato has a “celebratory dance-pop” full-length in the works with producer Zhone, who revealed, “This album is about letting inhibitions go, and we had so much fun making this music!”

See Lovato’s announcement below.

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Deep-Dive Into the Colorful Life of Harry Styles With These Four Illustrated Children’s Books on Amazon

All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

Harry Styles is and has always been a colorful figure.

From his teen heartthrob status in the boy band One Direction to successful solo work, the “Watermelon Sugar” singer has managed to amass a large fanbase of people from all walks of life, including kids. That’s no small feat, considering children seem to be the hardest demographic to please unless you’re on stage performing “Baby Shark.” If your kid is as obsessed with Styles as we are, then you’re in for a treat. We’ve compiled a list of children’s books available now on Amazon honoring the Grammy-winning singer. The best part? Each book is under $15.

We’ve rounded up four options that are whimsically illustrated, depicting the artist’s life in vibrant hues, accompanied by text that makes each story easy to digest for your little ones. Whether you’ve got a child who’s a Styles superfan or simply a voracious reader, we’re sure you’ll find something you and your kids will love.

Shop These Four Harry Styles Children's Books Under $15 On Amazon

Lullaby Legends: ABC of Harry Styles: A Rhyming Biography

$11.95

Buy Now On Amazon

A children’s book by Susie Linn and illustrated by Aimee Wright.

Lullaby Legends: ABC of Harry Styles: A Rhyming Biography helps your little ones learn all about Styles in an interactive rhyming fashion from A to Z. The illustrated book takes readers through his days on The X Factor to selling out stadiums solo, accompanied by whimsical illustrations by Aimee Wright. The book is available for $11.95, one of the more expensive options on our list. To give you a taste of what you’ll be getting into when you buy this book, you’ve got passages such as, “A is for Adore You, so tender and true, A love-filled tune, from Harry to you,” and “C is for Concerts, where fans sing along, Filling arenas with his heartfelt songs.” What’s not to love?

Shop These Four Harry Styles Children's Books Under $15 On Amazon

Have You Heard of Harry Styles?

$7.90 $10.99 28% off

Buy Now On Amazon

An interactive children’s book.

Have You Heard of Harry Styles? was thoughtfully illustrated by established illustrator Una Woods. The book currently retails for $7.90, 28% off its original price. Unlike our previous entry, this book is interactive, allowing kids to fiddle with each page through flaps and wheels that manipulate each illustration. With these interactive portions, readers can now get Styles ready for a show, play different instruments and get him dressed in some legendary looks.

Shop These Four Harry Styles Children's Books Under $15 On Amazon

Harry Styles: A Little Golden Book Biography (Little Golden Book Biographies)

$5.99

Buy Now On Amazon

An unauthorized biography about Harry Styles

Little Golden Book Biographies has a slew of unauthorized biographies about artists and their whirlwind lives. They’ve covered everyone from Lady Gaga to BLACKPINK, offering young readers the opportunity to learn more about their favorite performers through easily digestible language and playful visuals. This biography, like the other entries on this list, takes us through Styles’ life and accomplishments thus far. Paperback is $9.99, while Kindle and hardcover versions of the biography are both $5.99. An audiobook version will run you $0.99. This is one of the most affordable options on our list.

Shop These Four Harry Styles Children's Books Under $15 On Amazon

Harry Styles: A Baby’s First Biography (Tiny Idols)

$7.99

Buy Now On Amazon

An unauthorized biography with colorful illustrations.

Written by J.D. Forester and illustrated by Sophie Beer, Harry Styles: A Baby’s First Biography offers a whimsical telling of Styles’ life and career. The illustrations Beer provides are more cartoonish rather than realistic, offering the biography a playful element. The book is currently available on Amazon for $7.99 on Kindle or as a physical copy.

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